World Breaking News

Philippines rejects Dora the Explorer underwater theme park

January 11, 2017

The Philippine environment minister has said the US children’s television network Nickelodeon will not be allowed to build an underwater theme park on one of her country’s most pristine islands. Nickelodeon’s parent firm announced on Monday it would build a “themed attraction” inspired by its cartoon characters such as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants as part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) development on Palawan, generating alarm from environmentalists. The environment secretary, Gina Lopez, said on Wednesday she would reject the project. “Lopez says she won’t allow the underwater theme park in Palawan,” the environment department posted on its Twitter account. In an interview with ABS-CBN television, Lopez said she would not allow any project that would damage the environment and the welfare of local communities. “That’s our wealth. It’s not allowed. You can’t kill the corals. For a theme park? No. No way, man,” said Lopez, who has been a vocal opponent of mining projects in Palawan. “The commitment of the government is first and foremost and always, always to the benefit of our people.” Conservation groups call Palawan the nation’s “last ecological frontier” because of its relatively untouched coastlines and forests, which are among the oldest and most diverse in south-east Asia. Palawan is home to two Unesco world heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs. Monday’s statement by Nickelodeon’s parent firm, Viacom International Media Networks, said its resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six metres (20ft) below sea level. It also…more detail

UNDER THE SEA: Nickelodeon want to open an underwater ark on the Filipino island of Palawan Childrens’ TV giant Nickelodeon is planning to build an underwater theme park in the Philippines. The amusement is going to be set in the stunning surroundings of Palawan – which has been voted the number one best island in the world by Travel + Leisure. Inspired by iconic shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer, the park will be designed to give fans a chance to "interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love". In a bid…... [read more]

Jan 11 (Reuters) - Media company Viacom Inc said on Wednesday that David Lynn would lead its international media business, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), replacing Chief Executive Bob Bakish. Lynn will report to Viacom Chief Executive Bob Bakish who previously lead VIMN. VIMN, which includes popular entertainment channels Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and MTV, has been a bright spot for the company as it struggles with declining advertising revenue and ratings. Lynn will have management oversight of the company's media networks and related businesses outside the United States, Viacom said. The appointment comes as several high-ranking executives including Doug Herzog…... [read more]

American children's television network Nickelodeon will not be allowed to build an underwater theme park on one of the nation's most pristine islands, the Philippine environment minister said Wednesday. Nickelodeon's parent firm announced Monday it would build a "themed attraction" inspired by its cartoon characters such as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants as part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) development on Palawan, generating alarm from environmentalists. Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said Wednesday she would reject the project. Nickelodeon's parent firm announced Monday it would build a "themed attraction" as part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) development on Palawan, generating alarm from…... [read more]

American children's television network Nickelodeon has announced it will build an underwater resort and theme park on an island known as the Philippines' last ecological frontier, alarming environmentalists. The firm behind SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer said the park on Palawan island would be part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) undersea development showcasing the area's marine life that would give fans a chance to "interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love". Palawan was chosen for the development because it "is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world today," Ron Johnson, an executive…... [read more]

A well-known Qatari journalist and commentator has reportedly said that she believes the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey was justified because of the bloodshed the country has contributed to in the Syrian civil war. The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot dead in Ankara by an assailant who shouted “Don’t forget Syria! Don’t forget Aleppo! ...Until our towns are safe, you won’t enjoy security either. Everyone who is involved in this will pay a price. Only death can take me from here.” The man, identified as a 22-year-old member of the police’s special forces, Mevlut Altintas, was killed…... [read more]

Robert Bakish has been named acting CEO of Viacom.(Photo: Viacom) Viacom's Acting CEO Bob Bakish can now drop the "acting" from his title. The cable network operator made Bakish its official President and Chief Executive Officer Monday, just hours after billionaire media mogul Sumner Redstone and his daughter, Shari Redstone, heralded Bakish's leadership as among the reasons for asking Viacom and CBS to withdraw their merger proposal. Bakish, who has spent nearly two decades at Viacom, took over the role of the company's acting CEO and President on Nov. 15. He previously served as president and CEO of Viacom International…... [read more]

Nov 15 (Reuters) - Viacom Inc, the owner of Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV, said on Tuesday it had bought Argentine broadcaster Television Federal SA (Telefe) from telecom carrier Telefonica SA for $345 million in cash. The deal to buy the Spanish-language network and content producer is part of Viacom's plan to boost its presence in Argentina and Latin America. Viacom said the brands and assets acquired with the purchase included Telefe Internacional, a pay TV channel seen throughout the Americas. Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has been a bright spot for the company, which has been struggling with declining…... [read more]

Nov 15 (Reuters) - Viacom Inc, the owner of Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV, said on Tuesday it would buy Argentine broadcaster Television Federal SA (Telefe) from telecom carrier Telefonica SA for $345 million in cash. The deal to buy the Spanish-language broadcaster and producer is part of Viacom's plan to boost its presence in Argentina and Latin America. Viacom's international media networks business has been a bright spot for the company, which has been struggling with declining ad revenue and ratings. Bob Bakish, who headed Viacom's international business, took over as the company's interim chief executive on Tuesday, replacing…... [read more]

Viacom Inc (VIAB.O), the owner of Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV, said on Tuesday it had bought Argentine broadcaster Television Federal SA (Telefe) from telecom carrier Telefonica SA (TEF.MC) for $345 million in cash. The deal to buy the Spanish-language network and content producer is part of Viacom's plan to boost its presence in Argentina and Latin America. Viacom said the brands and assets acquired with the purchase included Telefe Internacional, a pay TV channel seen throughout the Americas. Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has been a bright spot for the company, which has been struggling with declining ad revenue…... [read more]

Viacom, the cable network operator in search of a new leader after tumultuous changes at its board of directors, appointed Monday Robert Bakish as acting president and CEO, buying its controlling shareholders and the board some time to vet and name their preferred CEO as they consider a possible merger with CBS Corp. On Nov. 15, Bakish will succeed Tom Dooley, its chief operating officer who has been occupying the CEO office since Philippe Dauman left the post in August after a power struggle with the Redstone family. Billionaire media mogul Sumner Redstone, who was Viacom's chairman until he stepped…... [read more]